( *H ) 



north, and go out of its Own accord, when it ought 

 to have difplayed itfelf with the greateft activity, 

 they have behaved at the approach of our people, 

 as an experienced pilot does at the fight of an un- 

 avoidable tempeft. They wifely gave way to the 

 ftorm, and afterwards, without interruption, repair- 

 ed the damages their fettlements had received from 

 it ; and by this conduct, though continually worfted 

 in Newfoundland, whether they acted on the offen- 

 five or defenfive, they have always carried on an in- 

 comparably greater trade than their conquerors, and 

 have at laft remained the fole matters and peaceable 

 poflelfors of that iiland. 



We have behaved ftill worfe in Canada ; this great 

 and rich province has been for a long time divided 

 amongft feveral private perfons, none of whom have 

 enriched themfelves, whilft the Englifh have made 

 immenfe profits by the filhery on its coafts. The 

 lej^ements which thefe proprietors have made, want- 

 ing folidity, and they themfelves being deflitute of 

 a regular plan, and the one deftroying the other, 

 they have left the country nearly in the fame con- 

 dition in which they found it, and in a ftate of 

 contempt and neglect from which it has not reco- 

 vered till the moment we loft it. Our enemies were 

 the firft who made us fenfible of its value. 



The only trade to which this colony has been long 

 reduced, is that of furs ; and the faults committed 

 in it are pad number. Perhaps, our national cha- 

 racter never mowed itfelf in a ftronger light than in 

 this affair. When we difcovered this vaft Conti- 

 nent, it was full of wild beads. A handful of 

 Frenchmen has made them almoft entirely difap- 

 pear in lefs than an age, and there are fome the fpe- 

 cies of which is entirely deftroyed. They killed 



